Treimche's White Platinum Ranger

[treimche]

My Ranger showed up 20 days early, and I was able to pick it up from the dealership on July 26th, so it was a great Friday. I will share pics of the truck and of my modifications to it as I go. It won't be anything crazy, but should be pretty clean and just the way I like it. I'll try to keep this mostly on the topic of the Ranger, but will also post why I traded in my 2017 TRD Pro Tacoma after only 2.5 years and 26k miles to get the new Ranger.

On to the Ranger. I ordered the truck just like this so I wasn't paying for stuff I didn't want, and was able to get all the things I did want. White Platinum paint, 501A package, FX4, and trailer tow package was all I wanted. It was damn near impossible to find a truck that did not have chrome bumpers or the sport package. Here's a pic of the Ranger the day I picked it up. I giggled at their little gifts they left on the passenger's seat, what a nice gesture.

 

[treimche]

Check out that White Platinum paint in the sun! Pulled my little boat down to the lake right away too.

 

[RedlandRanger]

My Ranger showed up 20 days early, and I was able to pick it up from the dealership on July 26th, so it was a great Friday. I will share pics of the truck and of my modifications to it as I go. It won't be anything crazy, but should be pretty clean and just the way I like it. I'll try to keep this mostly on the topic of the Ranger, but will also post why I traded in my 2017 TRD Pro Tacoma after only 2.5 years and 26k miles to get the new Ranger.

On to the Ranger. I ordered the truck just like this so I wasn't paying for stuff I didn't want, and was able to get all the things I did want. White Platinum paint, 501A package, FX4, and trailer tow package was all I wanted. It was damn near impossible to find a truck that did not have chrome bumpers or the sport package. Here's a pic of the Ranger the day I picked it up. I giggled at their little gifts they left on the passenger's seat, what a nice gesture.

Yours is basically identical to mine except I got the stone seats rather than the ebony. I ordered for exactly the same reasons - I wanted to get exactly what I wanted and didn't want to pay for things I didn't want. I intend on keeping this truck for a number of years, just like my last Ranger, so it was important to get what I wanted. Thus far, after 4 months, I can't think of anything I'd change about the order. I'm very glad I got what I did.

I will be interested to hear your reasons for trading your Tacoma. My brother just traded his 2007 Tacoma for an XLT as well.

Nice looking truck! Congratulations!

 

[treimche]

Monday came, so I had to install the RCMustang auto up/down window module, tint the front windows, and wrap a couple interior parts with vinyl.

I took a few pics of the wiring and how I installed the window module. I de-pinned the connectors so I could solder and heat shrink the wires that need to be tapped, then Tesa tape on the harness so it looks all nice and OEM.

Front windows are tinted using Xpel Prime XR Black 20%. After tinting, the front windows meter at 19%, and the OEM rear windows are at 24%, so I'll probably add some Llumar Air 80 to the rear windows for heat rejection and to even out the look.

While I had the front door panels off, I used some 3M 1080 carbon fiber wrap vinyl to wrap the plastic parts of the door handles that come off. I foresee that plastic getting scratched up easily. I also did the small piece behind the door handle up top since those already had some marks on them. Haven't had time to do the rear doors yet, but will soon.

 

[treimche]

The next day I installed my RedArc Tow Pro Elite with the Lightforce switch fascia. I took a pic of where the trailer brake wires were since some people seem to have a tough time finding them. Just a note if you use this brake controller and switch fascia, you need a different RJ45 cable than what they give you. The ends on their cable are huge and interfere with something in the dash behind the switch fascia, so just grab a normal RJ45 cable and you'll be good to go. I mounted the brake controller to the back side of the driver's side fuse panel access cover.

Attached a pic of what I tow out to the track and back. DCT aluminum trailer with my 2005 S2000 that is turbo'd making 600HP.

 

[treimche]

Gave the Ranger a proper bath after towing to the track and back last weekend. Scrubbed all the bugs off and then went back and decontaminated the whole truck using Car Pro Iron X. You'd be amazed at how many iron deposits are all over the truck for being so new. You can see all the red/purple iron deposits being dissolved, and on the ground it basically turned dark red because there was so much that came off.

 

[treimche]

Added some nice LED puddle lights today. These are a super quick and easy upgrade from Amazon for like $17. Check the before and after pics, it is a huge difference and I don't really understand why they didn't use LEDs in the first place.
Pics ar as follows:
Stock puddle lights after being popped loose.
New puddle lights unboxed.
Stock puddle lights (left) vs new LEDs (right).
New LEDs connected and connectors heat shrinked.
Leds lit up in my shop with the lights off.
Stock puddles lit up in my shop with the lights off.

 

[treimche]

Also had to test fit a wheel/tire that I've had on my last 2 trucks. These are Konig Countersteer Offroads, 16x8 +0 offset. Tires are Toyo Open Country AT 305/70/16, so they're really wide. Looks like I'll have to install a lift, offset crash bars, and fender flares in order to run these on the Ranger.

 

[tgRanger]

Added some nice LED puddle lights today. These are a super quick and easy upgrade from Amazon for like $17. Check the before and after pics, it is a huge difference and I don't really understand why they didn't use LEDs in the first place.
Pics ar as follows:
Stock puddle lights after being popped loose.
New puddle lights unboxed.
Stock puddle lights (left) vs new LEDs (right).
New LEDs connected and connectors heat shrinked.
Leds lit up in my shop with the lights off.
Stock puddles lit up in my shop with the lights off.

I also Installed those same puddle lights on my truck, their very bright but one of mine the lens was separated from the capsule it just popped off, I had to superglue it. Also was a bit concerned with the open hole where the wires come out, even though it says waterproof if you notice behind your mirror that’s exactly where the puddle light sits and that hole, I can imagine a lot of water in that area during rain, car wash etc.

I though about shrink wrapping them but used electrical tape and tiny zip tie to keep them together instead, this way if they ever go south and I have to change them out it’ll be a piece of cake, esp if your using the adhesive type tube. Overall I think these are the best ones Amazon has to offer, their Cree not SMD. Hope they last or at least until Diode Dinamics or someone else makes a better pair.

 

[treimche]

Just installed a new Truxedo Sentry hard rolling tonneau cover on my Ranger today. I got this because I had a Truxedo Titanium cover on my last truck and loved it. The Sentry is similar, but better. The latches are better, and the whole cover is lower profile, plus the under side of the cover is black aluminum slats. I also installed a Bed Rug at the same time today. The Bed Rug and Sentry cover work perfect together. After washing or rain, I'll check to see if/how much water leaks into the bed. I did add some extra pieces of foam sealing tape in the front corners of the box to hopefully help keep the box dry.

 

[Hack_Actual]

Great build so far!

 

[808matt]

[/QUOTE]

Just realized how bad the gap on the side of my tailgate is

 

[treimche]

Been really busy and forgot to add some more new changes from the summer. Back in August I threw in the Truxedo Expedition truck luggage cargo carrier in the box. Also added the LED strips underneath the tonneau cover side rails to light up the box. I wired that up to the cargo lamp switch so any time the rear cargo light is on, so are the box LEDs.

 

[treimche]

Also went a little crazy and blacked out some parts on the truck back in August. I love a white vehicle with a black roof, and decided to go ahead and do that. The roof, mirror caps, fender emblems, Raptor grille surround and letters are all gloss black with a bit of metallic mixed in. This isn't paint, vinyl, or plasti dip either. This is all done using Autoflex Express, which is a removable paint.

 

[FULLSCALE]

I’ve mentioned it before but I love what you’ve done with the black accents! How do you like the Truck Luggage storage? I have the bag that hangs in the back corner of the bed but I’m not a fan of it.